Department for Transport

Aviation: Fuels

Baroness Featherstone: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what funding is available for research and development into sustainable aviation fuels.

Baroness Featherstone: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the carbon savings that could result from increasing the use of biofuels in UK aviation.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The Government believes sustainable aviation fuels are of strategic importance, both in reducing carbon emissions and to drive the development of an advanced biofuels industry in the UK. Those developing sustainable aviation biofuels were eligible to apply for funding under the Department’s Advanced Biofuel Demonstration Competition, the winners of which were announced last September. In early 2015 a Transport Energy Taskforce including aviation industry experts considered, amongst other things, the potential for sustainable aviation fuels to contribute to our climate change commitments to 2030 and beyond. Further to that work we are planning to consult on potential changes to the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation later this year, including to make renewable fuels used in aviation eligible for reward under the scheme.

Railway Track

Lord Patten: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 11 May (HL8205), whether they hold information on the number of single line tracks on passenger lines in their records; and if not, why not.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The Department for Transport does not hold detailed records of track layouts. These records are held by the Infrastructure Operators. The information is provided to the Department on request and is also available in commercial map publications at specialist railway bookshops.

Rapid Transit Systems: South Yorkshire

Lord Scriven: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what the reasons are for the delay in the start of operation of the South Yorkshire Tram Train service.

Lord Scriven: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action has been taken, by whom, and when, to ensure that Network Rail deals with the slippage of the start date of the South Yorkshire Tram Train service.

Lord Scriven: To ask Her Majesty’s Government when the South Yorkshire Tram Train service will be operational.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The Department for Transport and South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive, the joint funders of the tram train pilot project, have been advised that Network Rail has initiated a review of the current programme of works needed to adapt their infrastructure to operate the tram train vehicles between Meadowhall South and Rotherham Parkgate.The Department understands that Network Rail has encountered significant issues with the approval of new bespoke electrification equipment needed to operate the tram train vehicles. The joint funders are clearly disappointed by this further delay.

Bus Services

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what types of data they envisage bus companies outside London will have to make available under the provisions of the Bus Services Bill.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The provisions of the Bus Services Bill enable the creation of a single repository of information that could contain information about routes, timetables, fares and tickets, as well as live information about bus arrival times. The information would be open to the public and could be used by software developers to create, for example, information applications for mobile devices. The detail of what information is to be provided, and in what format, will be developed through close consultation with bus operators, local transport authorities and potential users and will be included in secondary legislation subject to the affirmative procedure.

Bus Services: Fuels

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to require bus operators to use greener fuel.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: A series of measures have been brought in in recent years to encourage bus operators to use greener fuels. Under the Green Bus Fund which ran from 2009-2014, £89m of Government funding helped purchase over 1200 buses. These vehicles met strict rules covering reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, compared with ordinary buses, taking into account both the production and consumption of the fuel. The Low Emission Bus Scheme (LEBS), announced last year, will provide over £30m to help buy several hundred more low emission buses. The Government is also encouraging the uptake of greener vehicles through the Bus Service Operators Grant low carbon emission bus incentive under which eligible services receive an additional 6p per kilometre. The Bus Services Bill, which was introduced into the House of Lords on 19th May, will provide local transport authorities with new powers to specify the emission standards to be met by local bus services – including through franchising and, with sufficient support from bus operators, under enhanced partnership arrangements. The Government has also invested over £26m since 2011 under the Clean Bus and Clean Vehicle Technology Funds for local authorities in pollution hotspots across England to retrofit 1000s of buses, and other vehicles, with pollution reducing technology. This includes converting some buses to either natural gas or to electric propulsion.

Bus Services: Disability

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to require bus operators to make buses disability friendly.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Single deck buses designed to carry over twenty two passengers on local and scheduled routes must already comply with the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations (PSVAR), including incorporating a designated wheelchair space and boarding facilities, priority seating and colour-contrasting hand-holds. Double deck buses must comply by the 1st January next year, and coaches by 2020. As at 2014/15, 95% of buses in England were low floor or had an accessibility certificate, compared to 80% in 2009/10. Positive driver interactions and accessible on-board information also make a big difference for many disabled passengers. We are developing best practice guidance on providing disability awareness training for drivers, and have supported innovative approaches for providing next stop information on-board vehicles.

Bus Services

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to require bus operators to collaborate to make bus journeys more integrated.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Bus operators and local transport authorities can work together to improve bus services for passengers through voluntary arrangements and statutory partnerships. The Bus Services Bill will improve the range of partnership options available to authorities and operators. The Bill will make the statutory partnership schemes more attractive by removing the requirement that the scheme must involve the provision of specific facilities. The Bill will also create a new enhanced partnership arrangement. This will enable local transport authorities to set the frequency and timing of specific services, introduce a zonal ticketing scheme, mandate types of payment that must be accepted, and require certain information to be given to passengers. Any proposals must receive sufficient support from the bus operators before they can be introduced.

Fuels

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they have taken to increase the percentage of fuel made from used cooking oil and other waste products.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) was amended in 2011 to provide double reward for biofuels derived from wastes. Since the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) was established waste based biofuels have risen from 12% of total biofuel supply in the first year of the obligation 2008/09, to 50% based on the latest full year’s data for 2014/15 (Biofuels Statistics obligation year 7 2015/16 - Report 6). According to our latest but incomplete dataset, covering 2015/16, waste based biofuels have risen to 54% of total biofuel supply (Biofuels Statistics obligation year 8 2015/16 - Report 3). Used cooking oil from the UK was the most widely reported source under the RTFO for biodiesel in 2014/15 (by feedstock and country of origin) making up 19%. The latest available (incomplete) data for 2015/16 suggests used cooking oil from the UK has risen to 24% of biodiesel. In addition we have made available a total of £25 million in match-funded grants to construct three demonstration scale advanced biofuel plants in Swindon, Tees Valley and Grangemouth. These projects will convert low value waste to high value transport fuel.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Andargachew Tsege

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to ask the government of Ethiopia to release Andy Tsege following his alleged torture and sentencing to death without a court hearing, and if not, why not.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The Government takes the detention and welfare of Mr Andargachew Tsege, who was transferred from Yemen and is imprisoned in Ethiopia, very seriously. The Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Philip Hammond), has raised Mr Tsege's case with his Ethiopian counterpart over 20 times. The Minister for Africa, my Hon Friend, the Member for Rochford and Southend East (James Duddridge) has also raised the case, most recently on 8 January. Our focus has been on lobbying for Mr Tsege to have access to an independent lawyer who is able to advise him of his legal options. We believe that this is the best way to grant Mr Tsege the opportunity to resolve this case. Ministerial lobbying has already achieved the transfer of Mr Tsege to a normal federal prison and regular consular visits. We will continue to lobby the Ethiopian government until Mr Tsege is given access to a lawyer, and until our concerns about Mr Tsege’s case have been fully addressed.

Iran: Prisoners

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what have been the practical benefits to the UK of the July 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action with Iran, and of the Foreign Secretary’s visit to Iran in August 2015, in respect of obtaining the release back to the UK of prisoners such as Kamal Foroughi, and Nazanin Ratcliffe and her child.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action applies only to Iran’s nuclear programme, but offers a real opportunity for Iran to normalise its relations with the international community. Reopening our Embassies in August 2015 offers greater opportunity to discuss a range of issues, including consular cases. We regularly raise our concerns on all consular cases, both in London and Tehran. Most recently the Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), raised them with Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif on 17 May, and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth East (Mr Ellwood), raised them with the Iranian Charge d’Affaires in London on 18 May.

Iran: Capital Punishment

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many Iranians have been executed since the visit of the Foreign Secretary to Iran and the re-opening of the UK embassy in Tehran last year, and what assessment they have made of whether that figure indicates any improvement in the human rights position of Iranian citizens.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Iran believes that between 966 and 1,025 people were executed in 2015. The UK repeatedly calls on Iran to bring an end to the use of the death penalty.

Israel: Palestinians

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel regarding the destruction of crops and olive trees on Palestinian-owned agricultural lands near Nejehot settlement by Israeli forces.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: We are aware of the difficulties facing Palestinian olive growers and of the particular sensitivities around olive trees given their status as a national symbol and the sole source of income for many Palestinian farmers. We have expressed our serious concerns to the Israeli Government and security officials about the destruction of olive trees on a number of occasions, whether by the Israeli authorities or extremist settlers. We hold the Israeli authorities responsible for enforcing the rule of law and providing the appropriate protection to the Palestinian civilian population.

Israel: Palestinians

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they are making to the government of Israel concerning the banning of two Palestinians from accessing Al Aqsa Mosque on the grounds of their having been involved in protests against the entry of Israeli settlers to the site.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: Whilst we have not raised this specific issue with the Israeli authorities, it is vital that the longstanding status quo of the Temple Mount/Haram al Sharif compound be preserved and we urge the Israeli authorities to comply with their obligations under international law as an occupying power in East Jerusalem.

Israel: Palestinians

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they are making to the government of Israel regarding the closure of all commercial crossings in the West Bank on 11 and 12 May, preventing permit holders from accessing Israel or East Jerusalem because of Israel’s Commemoration and Independence Day.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: While we are not planning to make any representations to the Israeli authorities on these specific incidents, we remain deeply concerned about restrictions on freedom of movement between the West Bank and East Jerusalem. We continue to work closely with the Quartet and EU partners to call on Israel to ease access restrictions.

Israel: Bedouin

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they are making to the government of Israel regarding the demolition by Israeli forces on 16 May of seven donor-funded residential containers and the confiscation of materials for another three in the Palestinian Bedouin community of Jabal al Baba.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: We condemn the demolition of Bedouin homes at Jabal Al-Baba, which is a particularly vulnerable community in East Jerusalem. We have not specifically raised this issue, but we are extremely concerned at the large increase in demolitions in the Occupied Palestinian Territories since the start of 2016, compared to the monthly average in 2015. Our Embassy in Tel Aviv raises our concerns about demolitions regularly with the Israeli authorities, most recently on 15 May. We call on Israel to provide a legal route for Palestinians to obtain building permits.

Israel: Palestinians

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they are making to the government of Israel regarding the targeting of Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza strip, including the sinking and confiscation of fishing boats on 15 May north of the Gaza strip.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: Whilst we have not raised this specific issue with the Government of Israel, officials from our Embassy in Tel Aviv have expressed our concern previously over the Israel Defence Forces' use of live fire against fishermen and also about the confiscation of their boats.

Yemen: Banks

Baroness Hodgson of Abinger: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are providing support to the central bank of Yemen to avert financial collapse.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The Central Bank of Yemen (CBY) is a key Yemeni institution. We have made sure that the economy and the state of the CBY are not ignored during the peace talks in Kuwait. We continue to lobby the Government of Yemen and the Houthis and Pro-Saleh General People's Congress at the highest levels to emphasise the seriousness of the economic situation, including pressing for all Yemeni parties to cooperate, take ownership of the issues, and ensure key institutions such as the CBY are protected.

Armed Conflict: Sexual Offences

Lord Storey: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to publish a strategic plan and five-year road map for the implementation of the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative, and if so, when.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The Government is considering the recommendation in the House of Lords Select Committee Report on Sexual Violence that it develops a strategic plan and roadmap. The Government will respond in full to the Select Committee Report on 13 June. The Government will continue to update Parliament on the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s annual Human Rights Report. The Government also plans to provide regular briefings and updates to the recently formed All-Party Parliamentary Group on Sexual Violence in Conflict. In addition, the Government keeps all those interested in this important work up-to-date on progress via social and other forms of media.

*No heading*

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to assist the International Criminal Court to bring to justice those who have been indicted for genocide or crimes against humanity, such as President Bashir of Sudan, and what action they will take against those individuals, including British citizens, who provide support to, or aid and abet, such regimes.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The UK is a strong supporter of the International Criminal Court (ICC); we continue to promote compliance with the arrest warrants for all those indicted, including President Bashir of Sudan. The UK has made it a domestic crime to commit any of the crimes in the ICC Rome Statute, including genocide and crimes against humanity. The legislation provides for ancillary offences including in respect of persons that aid, abet, counsel or procure the commission of a genocide, crime against humanity or war crime. Where such crimes take place in the UK, or elsewhere by UK nationals, UK residents or a person subject to UK Service jurisdiction, they can be prosecuted before the UK courts.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Trade: Statistics

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they plan to take to improve trade data for the next calendar quarter.

Lord Price: Increasing exports is a key factor in the Government’s long-term economic plan. Government departments are working together to support UK businesses looking to take advantage of overseas opportunities and to create a strong business environment that allows them to flourish both at home and overseas. A key part of this work is to identify export opportunities, many of which are based around the needs of high-growth and emerging markets. We are making those opportunities available to UK businesses through the Exporting is GREAT campaign which has elicited over 25,000 responses to the 7,000 export opportunities published online since it launched in November 2015.

Department for International Development

Developing Countries: Education

Lord Alton of Liverpool: to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they will take to ensure that the new Education Cannot Wait fund will focus on the most marginalised children, including girls and children with disabilities.

Baroness Verma: The UK has played a leading role in the development of Education Cannot Wait – a fund for education in emergencies. A key focus for Education Cannot Wait will be on ensuring that marginalised children and young people are able to access a quality education. This includes refugees and internally displaced children, as well as children facing barriers to their education because of their gender, disability or other factors.This focus is reflected in the Fund’s indicative headline results, which commits to providing “Inclusive education [that] reaches the most marginalised children and young people in crises” with a target of “100% of supported education opportunities demonstrate increase in education for girls, disabled and those in remote locations”.The UK will continue to engage closely during Education Cannot Wait’s inception phase, to ensure that this commitment is fully reflected in its final design and results frameworks.

Ministry of Justice

Social Security Benefits: Appeals

Lord Beecham: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their estimate of the annual saving in legal aid costs as a result of the withdrawal of legal and advice in relation to benefits appeals.

Lord Faulks: Legal aid for welfare benefits appeals is limited to advice and assistance on a point of law in the Upper Tribunal, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, including applications to the Upper Tribunal for permission to appeal. Legal aid is also available for judicial reviews of welfare benefit decisions and claims about welfare benefits relating to a contravention of the Equality Act 2010. Given the need to focus limited resource on the highest priority matters, legal aid is no longer generally available for other welfare benefits matters. Although many people rely on benefits, these cases primarily concern financial entitlement and, as such, do not raise such fundamental issues as cases concerning liberty or safety. The Impact Assessments published at the time LASPO received Royal Assent provided estimates for the reductions in legal aid spending for matters within the welfare benefits category, It was estimated that volumes would fall by 135,000 or 98% and spend by £25m or 97%. As part of the LASPO Post Implementation Review, the department will make an assessment of whether this reduction has been achieved. The impact assessments published alongside LASPO are available on the gov.uk website.

Probation

Lord Ramsbotham: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the percentage of short-term prisoners in receipt of satisfactory probation supervision; and how that is being assessed.

Lord Faulks: We assess the standard of supervision for all offenders, including those sentenced to under 12 months, through a range of service levels and, for Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs), through a robust contract management process. Performance information for the National Probation Service and CRCs against these service levels is published quarterly. The most recent statistics were published on 28 April.

Ministry of Defence

Ministry of Defence: Property Transfer

The Duke of Somerset: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have considered the longer-term advantages of selling surplus Ministry of Defence property by leasehold rather than freehold, and if so, what conclusions they have drawn.

Earl Howe: The Ministry of Defence largely sells its surplus estate freehold in accordance with the disposal process set out by the Treasury, in order to ensure best value for the taxpayer. However, if warranted, properties may be sold with a long-term leasehold in order to retain an element of influence over their future use and occupation.

Department for Work and Pensions

Social Security Benefits: Appeals

Lord Beecham: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is (1) the role, and (2) the annual cost, of presenting officers employed by the Department for Work and Pensions in relation to benefit appeals.

Baroness Altmann: The role of the Presenting Officer is to present the Department’s case effectively thereby helping the tribunal reach the right decisions and to gather feedback from the tribunal for its decision makers. The year to date costs for existing DWP Presenting Officers (to January 2016) is approx. £1.5m.

Personal Independence Payment

Baroness Thomas of Winchester: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Altmann on 4 May (HL Deb, col 1503), what rate of support claimants of the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment will be guaranteed to receive if they cannot walk safely, to an acceptable standard, repeatedly, and in a reasonable time period, (1) for more than 20 metres, or (2) for more than 50 metres.

Baroness Altmann: Claimants who can stand and then move no more than 20 metres will receive the enhanced rate of the mobility component of PIP. Claimants who can stand and then move more than 20 metres but no more than 50 metres are guaranteed to receive at least the standard rate of the mobility component. In some cases, depending on the individual’s circumstances, they may receive the enhanced rate If they score points from the other mobility activity.

Disability Living Allowance

Baroness Thomas of Winchester: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what were the medical criteria behind the introduction of a walking distance of 50 metres as part of the assessment for Disability Living Allowance in 1992.

Baroness Altmann: No walking distance was set when Disability Living Allowance (DLA) was introduced. The higher rate mobility component of DLA was always intended to be for those disabled people who were unable to walk or virtually unable to walk. The DLA regulations refer to the ability to walk out of doors being limited by reference to four factors; distance, speed, length of time or manner in which progress can be made without severe discomfort. The lower rate mobility component was intended for people who are able to walk but need guidance or supervision because of severe mental or physical disability. Personal Independence Payment (PIP), which is replacing Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for working age claimants, was developed to provide a more equal recognition of both daily living and mobility needs of those with all disability and impairment types, including physical, mental health, cognitive and sensory.

HM Treasury

Block Grant: Northern Ireland

Lord Empey: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have agreed the reduction to the Block Grant for the Northern Ireland Executive as a result of the decision to introduce a lower rate of Corporation Tax in Northern Ireland from April 2018, and if so, what is the new Block Grant figure.

Lord O'Neill of Gatley: In 2015 the government legislated to make a lower Northern Ireland Corporation Tax rate possible. The Northern Ireland Executive are committed to introducing a rate of 12.5%, to be introduced in 2018.Now Northern Ireland’s own political leaders must press on with the reforms necessary to put the Executive’s finances on the sustainable footing required to complete Corporation Tax devolution. As set out in the Stormont House Agreement, the Executive would then meet the direct and behavioural costs of any reduction in corporation tax in Northern Ireland, and we are continuing to work with the Executive on the funding arrangements which would deliver this outcome.

Social Security Benefits and Taxation: EU Nationals

Lord Beecham: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord O’Neill of Gatley on 18 February (HL5912), when information about taxes paid by and benefits paid to EU migrants which was not available in February became available, and why that answer was not updated with the requested information.

Lord Beecham: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether VAT paid by EU migrants is included in the recently announced figures of taxes paid by EU migrants, and if not what is the estimate of such payments.

Lord O'Neill of Gatley: The analysis on recently arrived non-UK EEA nationals subject to income tax and National Insurance contributions or receiving HMRC administered benefits became available on 12 May 2016 when it was published on HMRC’s publications page on GOV.UK.No estimate of VAT paid by EU Nationals is held. VAT is levied on most goods and services, with the person’s nationality not generally recorded.

London Stock Exchange: Deutsche Borse

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they or the Financial Conduct Authority have commenced reviewing the regulatory conditions to be applied to the takeover of the London Stock Exchange by Deutsche Bourse, and whether that takeover can proceed without regulatory approval.

Lord O'Neill of Gatley: I refer the noble Lord to my written answer of 26 April (HL7583, HL7584, HL7585, and HL7586), and to the investor relations section of the London Stock Exchange Group website, which contains information about the proposed merger, including on the required regulatory approvals. The timings of the regulatory notifications are a matter for the companies acting in accordance with the relevant legislation.

Financial Services

Lord Mendelsohn: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the case for prohibiting full transparency in transaction costs in fund management reporting.

Lord Mendelsohn: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether it is their policy that entertainment expenses either given or received by individuals in fund management companies and their clients and suppliers should be disclosed, and whether they will encourage pension trustees to require such disclosures in their management contracts.

Lord O'Neill of Gatley: The Government is committed to the principle that people should have access to appropriate and accessible investment options and understand the charges that they face. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is currently conducting a market study into asset management. We await the FCA’s assessment of disclosure of costs and fees in fund management reporting, where these issues fall under the scope of the market study. The FCA expect to publish an interim report in summer 2016 and a final report in early 2017. With respect to the disclosure requirements imposed on pension trustees, the Department for Work and Pensions and the FCA jointly undertook a Call for Evidence on disclosure of costs and charges in workplace pension schemes during 2015. We and the FCA are assessing the responses received and remain committed to making regulations and rules in this Parliament requiring publication of costs and charges, as per the legal duty in the Pensions Act 2014.

Insurance Fraud Taskforce

Lord Mendelsohn: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to report on the progress of the Insurance Fraud Taskforce and its role in dealing with fraudulent claims and the operation of claims management companies; and what assessment they have made of the implementation of the recommendations of the Insurance Fraud Taskforce: final report published in January.

Lord Mendelsohn: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the findings of the Insurance Fraud Taskforce that detected insurance fraud and undetected insurance fraud costs consumers up to £50 per year; and whether they plan to establish a unit (1) to track the return of those costs to the consumer, and (2) to monitor the performance of the insurance industry in tackling fraud and addressing the practices of claims management companies.

Lord O'Neill of Gatley: A Written Ministerial Statement was published on 26 May 2016 to announce that the Government accepts each of the recommendations addressed to it. We expect that all organisations tasked with taking forward recommendations do so with urgency. The Government will do what it can to assist and, in order to make sure that all of the recommendations are actively pursued, we will seek an update on progress later in the year. The report highlighted the particular problem of fraud in relation to low value personal injury claims and the Government has established a programme of reforms in this area, particularly in respect of whiplash claims and regulation of claims management companies. We are pleased that the report’s recommendations reflect and support that reform programme.

Claims Management Services: Regulation

Lord Mendelsohn: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their target date for the operation of a regulatory regime for claims management companies.

Lord O'Neill of Gatley: At Budget 2016 the Chancellor announced that the government accepts the recommendations of the independent review into the regulation of Claims Management Companies (CMCs). The new regime will be tougher and will ensure CMC managers can be held personally accountable for the actions of their businesses. In order to ensure that the new regulatory regime is implemented effectively, the government intends to transfer responsibility for regulating CMCs from the Ministry of Justice to the Financial Conduct Authority. The government intends to take forward the necessary primary legislation in due course.

Insurance

Lord Mendelsohn: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to encourage better customer service in insurance companies that allow for consumers to make free claims.

Lord O'Neill of Gatley: The Government is determined that insurers should treat customers fairly and firms are required to do so under the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) rules. The FCA’s Insurance Conduct of Business Sourcebook (ICOBS) sets the conduct standards required of insurance firms in relation to their business which aim to ensure consumers are treated fairly. This includes provisions relating to the handling of claims by insurers. ICOBS states that insurers must handle claims fairly and promptly; provide reasonable guidance to help a policyholder make a claim, and appropriate information on its progress; not reject a claim unreasonably; and settle claims promptly once settlement terms are agreed.

Cabinet Office

UK Membership of EU

Lord Blencathra: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the remarks by the Prime Minister on 9 May regarding the “risk” to “peace and stability on our continent” should the UK vote to leave the EU, what contingency plans they are preparing for deploying Army Reserves.

Lord Bridges of Headley: In his speech on 9 May, the Prime Minister was clear that the UK will be stronger, safer and better off by remaining a member of the EU. If the UK were to leave the EU, the withdrawal negotiation would need to address a wide range of difficult issues, including co-operation on foreign policy.

Electoral Register

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with ministers in the devolved administrations about improving the levels of voter registration.

Lord Bridges of Headley: Following the May elections we look forward to working with the new Governments in Scotland and Wales on modernising and improving electoral registration. Electoral policy is not devolved in Northern Ireland but we are working with the Chief Electoral Officer to introduce digital registration. The Government is committed to helping ensure that everyone who is eligible to vote in polls is able to do so. Online registration makes it easier, simpler and faster for people to register to vote. Since the introduction of IER in Great Britain in 2014 there have been over 17 million applications to register to vote, with a majority of these applications online.

Electoral Register

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they intend to review the number of types of identification documents with which a person may register to vote.

Lord Bridges of Headley: Ensuring the accuracy of electoral registers and taking steps to reduce fraud is critical to building confidence in the systems underpinning our democracy. In the majority of cases, applicants registering to vote will have their identity matched against government records or local data sources successfully. Where this is not possible, most applicants can be asked to provide supporting documentary evidence, which can be drawn from a wide range of sources and there are no plans to change this.

Electoral Register

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what actions they are taking to ensure that victims of domestic abuse and other victims of serious violence are aware that they can reregister to vote anonymously.

Lord Bridges of Headley: Electors who need to keep their name and address anonymous are able to submit an application for anonymous registration. As part of their application, electors must satisfy the Electoral Registration Officer that their safety, or that of people they live with, would be at risk if the register contained their name and address. For this purpose electors must provide either a court order or an attestation by a “qualifying officer”, which includes senior police officers and chief social workers. The evidential threshold for applications for anonymous electoral registration is to ensure that it is available only to those whose personal safety would genuinely be at risk if their details appeared on the electoral register. Domestic violence charities and other Non-Government Organisations may partner with Individual Electoral Registration Officers to ensure those in their area who may need to register anonymously are able to do so.

Political Parties: Finance

Lord Tyler: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to reallocating public funds presently allocated to (1) candidate and party election addresses, and (2) government advertising, to enable a cost-neutral package of reform of the rules on political party finance, including a cap on donations.

Lord Bridges of Headley: The Government is open to dialogue on practical measures to reform the funding of political parties. This can only be achieved by cross party discussions from the political parties themselves.